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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. net — for catching
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. net — after costs
  5. tube — a container
  6. deal — to handle
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. prune — to trim
  10. vault — a safe
  11. mug — to rob
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. saw — the tool
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. mug — a cup
  16. tube — the underground
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. saw — the tool
  19. prune — to trim
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. net — in sport
  24. mug — a face

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com